The World Goes Round entertains in DeBaun Auditorium

The music and lyrics of Kander and Ebb filled DeBaun this Friday and Saturday, when Theta Alpha Pi (TAP) presented The World Goes Round, the third full-length musical they have performed at Stevens. Nineteen students, alumni, and faculty members at Stevens performed in the show, which was directed by David Zimmerman.  The show was produced and choreographed by Kathy Gaccione (who also performed in one of the numbers), with music directed by Joe Manfredonia.

The World Goes Round is a revue of the songs of Kander and Ebb, popular musical theatre songwriting duo. Revivals of their two most famous works, Chicago and Cabaret, are currently playing on Broadway. The World Goes Round focuses on their works up to 1991, when the show was conceived.

Even when the more popular numbers were performed, there were many changes made to the music. The title number from Cabaret, originally performed as a show-stopping solo, was reconceived for a quartet. Kander and Ebb’s most famous song, New York, New York, was also changed, as four cast members began the number singing in different languages, showcasing the universality of the piece.

While the show was created for a cast of five, its revue style makes it easy to adjust for a larger cast. Every cast member in the show had some moment to shine, be it a solo or a dance section. There was never a sense of anyone stealing the spotlight away from anyone else.

Even though TAP is an honors fraternity centering on theatre, auditions were open to everyone, providing they had some connection to Stevens. For some of the cast members, doing this annual show together is their only chance to perform. Alumni Barbara Carames, who performed the title number, explained that for her, “It is very rare to get the opportunity to be onstage.” The rehearsal process for a revue allows cast members to work around job and class schedules. In fact, the cast was only onstage in full for the finale.

Watching the show, anyone could tell that the performers were having a great time working together. Student Liz Lamb said that these shows were “something we come together and do because we love the theatre,” and that was clear to those in the audience. Be it the humorous paean about baked goods, Sara Lee, or the heart wrenching trio of We Can Make It, Maybe This Time, and Isn’t this Better, every song was greeted with rapturous applause. TAP hopes to continue their string of successful revues.